Despite a far from perfect season, Lewis Hamilton still finds himself in the position to challenge for another World Drivers’ Championship title, as we head into the final race of the 2016 season. With the odds stacked against him, Hamilton may need a miracle to win the title, but he knows that the world of Formula One can through up some unexpected surprises.
Hamilton has been one of only two repeat winners at the Yas Marina Circuit, winning in both 2014 and 2011. However, Rosberg won the race last season and will be looking to repeat that again this year. The 2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was the scene for the close championship battle between the two Mercedes drivers, which ended with Hamilton on top.
Both drivers have had an emotional season filled with positives and negatives, as they battled through a historic 21 races. The season started poorly for Hamilton, with power unit gremlins allowing his teammate to claim four consecutive race victories and make the 2016 season an uphill climb for the defending World Champion. Things got worse for Hamilton, as a collision with his teammate on the opening lap of the Spanish Grand Prix would take both of them out of the race. Things turned around for him though, as a race victory in Monaco and Canada followed. He wasn’t able to earn the maiden victory of the European Grand Prix in Baku, although he was able to take the race victory in Austria, despite narrowly failing to finish due to contact with his teammate near the end of the race.
Austria was the end of a four-race win streak for Hamilton, during which he was able to take the lead of the World Drivers’ Championship. Momentum returned to Rosberg, fading Hamilton back to the runner up of the championship. An engine fire in Malaysia proved to be horrific for the Brit’s title chances. However, in America he was finally able to retake the momentum and three victories to close the gap to only 12 points.
Faced with impossible odds, Hamilton won’t be giving up and plans to push as hard as possible to take another World Drivers’ Championship title:
“It’s not been a perfect season and I’m faced with pretty impossible odds no matter what I do this weekend. But I can’t and won’t give up. You never know what might happen – however unlikely it may seem. I’ll be proud of myself and what I’ve achieved as long as I feel I’ve given my all and performed at my best. And, whatever happens, I’m proud of everyone who’s been a part of the success we’ve shared over the past few years. I’m approaching this weekend the same as I do every race. I want to win and I’ll give it everything to finish the season on a high.”
Having won the World Championship for McLaren in 2008 and over the past two years for Mercedes, Hamilton will be looking to defend his title and earn his fourth title. Another title would put him among the ranks of Sebastian Vettel and Alain Prost, both of which have four titles to their name.
Rosberg: “I have to treat this like any other race”
2016 World Drivers’ Championship Outcomes
